Chef Cook-Off

The My Local Feast Farmers’ Market will headline some new entertainment at its first Cobb & Co farmers’ market on Saturday, 8 April, including a competition for local chefs to strut their stuff using local produce.

The markets are an expansion for My Local Feast from its existing weekly Thursday farmers’ markets at the Empire Theatre. There will be an extensive line-up of activities, just in time for the school holidays. These include cooking classes and gardening for kids, farm animal petting area, sheep dog trial exhibit, Easter egg hunt, more than 60 stalls and a performance by local musicians, Signy & Doug.

Founder Josie Townsend said, “We have had two farmers’ markets in out business plan for the region for the last fours years and we have welcomed the community asking us to grow what we do by continuing the Cobb and Co farmers’ markets. It is fantastic to have a venue with so much space where we can bring a farm experience directly to the inner-city community of Toowoomba. Parking is plentiful and easy, the community have space to spread out and enjoy the markets, the trees provide shade and atmosphere, and I can even bring working sheepdog trials in, which I personally love watching,” stated Josie.

The competition will be hosted and judged by Callan Boys, Brisbane Times Good Food Guide Editor and National Food & Drink Editor for Fairfax Media. Local restaurants and cafes will have the chance to register a team of two to three, who will get 30 minutes to source their produce from the markets with a $40 budget, then have 30 minutes to cook-off in a round-robin style event.

“I believe the community are ready to look at how they shop and there is a growing acknowledgement that if it is available, the community really want to support local farmers directly,” concluded Josie.